Drink container holder

ABSTRACT

Drink container holder  11  for holding a drink bottle  15 . In particular, the drink container holder  11  of the present invention includes an insulating sleeve  21 , a tongue  22 , and a stopper closure  24 . The sleeve  21  is integral with the tongue  22 . The stopper closure  24  is attached to the tongue.

[0001] The present invention relates to drink container holders. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drink container holder for maintaining a drink at a desired temperature and protecting the drink from insects and the elements. However, the invention is not limited to such use.

[0002] Many drinks are packaged for sale in a bottle or what is known as a “stubby”. The bottle containing the drink is often stored in a refrigerator or a cooler to bring the drink to a desired temperature for consumption. Upon removal of the bottle from the cooling source, the drink in the bottle warms over time. Further, during consumption of the drink, the drinker's body temperature is transmitted through the hand holding the bottle and changes the temperature of the drink. To maintain the drink at the desired temperature for a longer period, a sleeve made from thermally insulating material bottle can be provided to store the bottle during transportation and/or consumption.

[0003] The popularity and long-lasting use of insulating sleeves have led many businesses to incorporate the insulating sleeve into an advertising strategy. For example, companies may provide bottle-insulating sleeves with the company's advertising message, such as its name, address, logo, product name(s), and/or slogan, placed on each holder. Also, individuals are often interested in applying a celebratory or novelty message to the drink container holder.

[0004] The insulating sleeve is frequently used to transport and consume a drink outside. Once a bottle is opened, insects, such as bees or wasps or flies, and debris can enter the bottle and foul the drink. Insects pose an acute problem because they are often drawn to the sugar and other substances found in soft drinks. In the case where a bee or wasp enters a bottle, the bee or wasp is likely to sting a person drinking from the bottle and as many people are allergic to bee stings and wasps can sting many times, potentially this situation can result in serious injury to the person.

[0005] It is also known although not generally known to have a holder for storing a can and a sleeve within the holder, the sleeve having an aperture for receiving the can therethrough. This holder has a stopper closure sized to encompass the aperture through the first retaining collar, the stopper closure being attached to the handle to be movable between an opened position and a closed position. Clearly this type of holder requires an outside frame an inside insulating sleeve and a stopper closure making the product large, cumbersome and expensive. In addition, the closing is by having the stopper closure overly the opening aperture. The stopper closure therefore prevents insects entering but allows spillage of the contents within the holder resulting in a messy unhygienic and unwanted product.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved drink container holder that overcomes or ameliorates the problems of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an insulating drink container holder, which can be used to prevent insects from entering the drink container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the invention there is provided a drink container holder for receiving a bottle, the holder having: a sleeve, formed of an insulating material, with side walls and a base and a top aperture for receiving a bottle therein; a tongue attached to the sleeve; and a stopper closure attached to the tongue and having a size and structure complementary to the opening of the bottle and positioned on the tongue to enable plugging or direct closing of the bottle. The tongue can be integral with the sleeve.

[0008] In one form the sleeve and tongue is formed from a single sheet of insulating material that is cut to form the side walls and base and sleeve in a connected shape with fixing means used to connect the side walls to form a cylinder and to connect a second part of the base to the connected cylinder to form a shape able to receive and hold a bottle. The base can be a circular shape connected to the sidewalls at one side with the second part of the base being diametrically positioned for fixing to the cylindrical sleeve. However, the base may only be a part of a circle and only partially close the bottom of the sleeve.

[0009] The stopper closure can be formed integral with the tongue or be fixedly attached to the tongue.

[0010] The sleeve is configured to receive a drink bottle. The sleeve has an outer wall that can display advertising indicia. The sleeve can be connected to the to the tongue by a living hinge.

[0011] The stopper closure provides a barrier between a bottle inserted in the drink container holder and the outside environment. The stopper closure also prevents spillage. The tongue can also include a planar cover for receiving a label displaying indicia.

[0012] Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a drink container holder for receiving a bottle, the holder having: a sleeve, formed of an insulating material, with side walls and a base and a top aperture for receiving a bottle therein; a tongue attachable to the sleeve; and a stopper closure attachable to the tongue and having a size and structure complementary to the opening of the bottle and positioned on the tongue to enable plugging or direct closing of the bottle.

[0013] In one form the tongue is attached to the sleeve by detachable means, such as by hook and loop connectors such as known under the Velcro trademark.

[0014] The stopper closure can be a separate closure designed to snap fit over the opening of a bottle or to plug the opening. The stopper closure may be permanently attached to the tongue, which is either permanently attached to the sleeve or detachably attached. If the sleeve is detachably attached, the stopper closure can be fixed to the tongue and a suitable tongue with a suitable closure can be used to close the relevant bottle held within the sleeve. Apart from this selection mechanism, it also allows for replacement of the tongue and stopper closure while retaining the sleeve. This provides a minimising of replacement parts while maintaining a high level of hygiene. However since the insulating material can be a known rubber or plastic the entire article can be washed.

[0015] In one particular form of the invention the stopper closure can be the lid of the bottle. Such lid can be removed from the bottle and attached to the relevant part of the tongue by a holding means. Such may be a series of resiliently deflectable fingers attached to the tongue and spaced to form an opening sufficient for the fingers to encircle and hold the extremities of the lid with.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other advantages, as well as additional inventive features, of the present invention will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, provided herein.

[0017] In order that the invention is more readily understood an embodiment will be described by way of illustration only with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative drink container holder made in accordance with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drink container holder of FIG. 1 with the stopper closure in the closed position;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drink container holder of the type of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a constructional position;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a drink container holder in accordance with the present invention;

[0022]FIGS. 5a, 5 b, 5 c and 5 d are plan, front, side and rear views of the drink container holder of FIG. 4 with the stopper closure in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an illustrative drink container holder 11 for holding a drink bottle 15. In particular, the drink container holder 11 of the present invention includes an insulating sleeve 21, a tongue 22, and a stopper closure 24. The sleeve 21 is integral with the tongue 22. The stopper closure 24 is attached to the tongue.

[0024] The drink container holder 11 is able to receive a bottle 15 or the like, the holder. The sleeve 21 is formed of an insulating material, with sidewalls and a base and a top aperture for receiving the bottle therein. The tongue 22 is a narrow elongated strip attached to the sleeve and extending integrally from a top edge thereof. The stopper closure 24 is in the form of a plastic plug moulded into the under surface of the tongue 22 or formed as a rubber moulding welded into the end of the tongue. The stopper closure 24 is attached to the tongue 22 and has a size and structure complementary to the opening of the bottle and positioned on the tongue to enable plugging or direct closing of the bottle. The sleeve is of suitable length and shape to extend from the top of the sleeve 21 and to extend over the top of the bottle to allow plugging of the opening.

[0025] The sleeve 21 thermally insulates a bottle 15 inserted in the sleeve and acts to maintain the drink in the inserted bottle at a desired temperature. More specifically, the sleeve 21 has a hollow cylindrical configuration sized to receive conventionally sized drink bottles. The sleeve 21 is formed of any suitable thermally insulating material, such as, for example, open-cell foam rubber, polystyrene foam. The material of the sleeve 21 is rigid or pliable.

[0026] The size of the sleeve 21 can be varied and sized to conform to standard dimensions commonly used in the art. For example, the diameter of the inner wall 42 bottle is sized such that the inner wall 42 is in contacting relation with a bottle that is inserted in the sleeve 21. It will be appreciated that in the case where the inner wall 42 has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the bottle, the sleeve 21 remains operative.

[0027] The sleeve 21 includes an upper and a lower end 44, 46. The upper end 44 includes an upper aperture 48 sized for receiving a bottle therethrough. The lower end 46 could have a lower aperture (not shown) that extends through the inner wall 42. In this embodiment, the lower end 46 bottle includes a circular surface that covers the lower end 46. An annular surface that projects inward from the inner wall 42 but still acts to retain and support the bottle could be used in other embodiments.

[0028] The embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5a, 5 b, 5 c and 5 d is a variation and substantially similar parts to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 as can be understood by a person skilled in the art are similarly numbered.

[0029] In use, the bottle is inserted into the drink container holder 11 such that the upper end of the bottle protrudes from the sleeve 21. The opposite side of the tongue 22 to the stopper closure 24 is a locating means 26 which can be a hook and loop attachment means known under the trade mark Velcro. A complementary locating means 27 is located on another portion of the tongue 22 or sleeve 21 so that the first locating means can be folded back and attached in a position out of the way for the user to drink or pour from the bottle 15. The complementary locating means 27 can be another part of the hook and loop attachment means known under the trade mark Velcro or the nature of the material of the tongue 22 or sleeve 21 may fulfil the requirements. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the stopper closure 24 can then be moved between the closed position and the opened position.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 3 one form of construction of an embodiment of the drink container holder is shown which is similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the stylised top edge of the sleeve 21. The sleeve 21 and tongue 22 are formed from a single sheet of insulating material that is cut to form the side walls and base 46 and sleeve in a connected shape.

[0031] Fixing means such as glue or plastic welding is used to connect the side walls to form a cylinder and to connect a second part of the base 46 to the connected cylinder to form a shape able to receive and hold a bottle. The base is a circular shape connected to the side walls at one side with the second part of the base being diametrically positioned for fixing to the cylindrical sleeve. However, the base may only be a part of a circle and only partially close the bottom of the sleeve.

[0032] In summary, the drink container holder is constructed such that the bottle or other drink container holder has an insulating sleeve with an attachable or attached tongue and attachable or attached stopper closure for directly closing or plugging the bottle after opening. The insulating sleeve can readily receive advertising or other indicia. The stopper closure bottle also readily receives a label displaying indicia.

[0033] While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations of the preferred embodiments the invention is not limited to such embodiments and such are included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

Claims defining the invention are as follows:
 1. A drink container holder for receiving a bottle, the holder having: a sleeve, formed of an insulating material, with side walls and a base and a top aperture for receiving a bottle therein; a tongue attached to the sleeve; and a stopper closure attached to the tongue and having a size and structure complementary to the opening of the bottle and positioned on the tongue to substantially plug the bottle.
 2. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the tongue integral with the sleeve.
 3. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the sleeve and tongue formed from a single sheet of insulating material that is cut to form the side walls and base and sleeve in a connected shape with fixing means used to connect the side walls to form a cylinder and to connect a second part of the base to the connected cylinder to form a shape able to receive and hold a bottle.
 4. A drink container holder as defined in claim 3 with the base being a circular shape connected to the side walls at one side with the second part of the base being diametrically positioned for fixing to the cylindrical sleeve.
 5. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the base being a part of a circle and only partially closing the bottom of the sleeve.
 6. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the stopper closure formed integral with the tongue.
 7. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the stopper closure fixedly attached to the tongue.
 8. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the sleeve connected to the tongue by a live hinge.
 9. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the tongue including a planar cover, which receives a label displaying indicia.
 10. A drink container holder as defined in claim 1 with the tongue including a first part of a locating means on the reverse side from the stopper closure and a second part of the locating means on a lower part of the holder so that the tongue can be folded back and attached to the lower part of the holder providing ready access to the opening of the bottle.
 11. A drink container holder for receiving a bottle, the holder having: a sleeve, formed of an insulating material, with side walls and a base and a top aperture for receiving a bottle therein; a tongue attachable to the sleeve; and a stopper closure attachable to the tongue and having a size and structure complementary to the opening of the bottle and positioned on the tongue to substantially plug the bottle.
 12. A drink container holder as defined in claim 11 with the tongue attached to the sleeve by detachable means.
 13. A drink container holder as defined in claim 11 with the tongue attached to the sleeve by hook and loop connectors such as known under the Velcro trademark.
 14. A drink container holder as defined in claim 11 with the stopper closure snap fitting over the opening of the bottle to substantially plug the opening.
 15. A drink container holder as defined in claim 11 with the stopper closure permanently attached to the tongue.
 16. A drink container holder as defined in claim 11 with the tongue detachably attached to the sleeve and the stopper closure fixed to the tongue, with the tongue having a suitable length and the stopper closure being suitably sized to substantially close the relevant bottle held within the sleeve and allowing for replacement of the tongue and stopper closure.
 17. A drink container holder as defined in claim 11 with the stopper closure using the lid of the bottle so that the lid is removed from the bottle and attached to a part of the tongue by a holding means.
 18. A drink container holder as defined in claim 16 with the stopper closure using the lid of the bottle with the lid removed from the bottle and attached to a part of the tongue by a holding means
 19. A drink container holder as defined in claim 18 with a series of resiliently deflectable fingers, attached to the tongue and spaced to form an opening sufficient for the fingers, encircle and hold the extremities of the lid.
 20. A drink container holder for receiving a bottle, the holder having: a cylindrical sleeve, formed of an insulating material, with side walls and a base and a top aperture for receiving a bottle therein; an elongated tongue attached to a top side of the sleeve and able to extend up the neck of the bottle; and a stopper closure attached to the distal end of the tongue away from the sleeve and having a size and structure complementary to the opening of the bottle and positioned on the tongue to allow substantial closing of the bottle; the tongue including a first part of a locating means on the reverse side from the stopper closure and a second part of the locating means on a lower part of the holder so that the tongue can be folded back and attached to the lower part of the holder providing ready access to the opening of the bottle. 